Phuket To Khon Kaen

[terak69]

Rawai to Phuket 1380 km's last month - loaded pick up & stopped overnight in Hau Hin,

Rawai to Phuket via Hua Hin must be the long long short-cut ...

Dunno any other way - across bridge, head North

Oh, I usually head south from Phuket Town to get to Rawai, which is a the very south end of Phuket Island. Just read your post again, and correct.

Edit/// aaahh... the penny has dropped :jap:

Baht dropped - must be missing Rawai

[steelepulse]

No no, Euro, Pound and Dollar dropped, Baht up.

[bunta71]

Rawai to Phuket 1380 km's last month - loaded pick up & stopped overnight in Hau Hin,

Rawai to Phuket via Hua Hin must be the long long short-cut ...

I believe that would be a " taxi shortcut"

[terak69]

Rawai to Phuket 1380 km's last month - loaded pick up & stopped overnight in Hau Hin,

Rawai to Phuket via Hua Hin must be the long long short-cut ...

I believe that would be a " taxi shortcut"

tuk tuk

[terak69]

Reason not to use train

BREAKING NEWS:

42 foreigners, Thais injured in Bangkok-Surat train crash

RATCHABURI: Bangkok-Surat express train hits truck in Ratchaburi, 42 Thais and foreigners injured.

More info shortly.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/484039-42-foreigners-thais-injured-in-bangkok-surat-train-crash/

Edited July 19, 2011 by terak69

[katabeachbum]

Rawai to Phuket 1380 km's last month - loaded pick up & stopped overnight in Hau Hin, got 1 speeding ticket, 400 baht, but reduced to 200 when gf accepted the fine from passenger seat !!! Drove 7-8 hours both days

I not think any safe driver could do in 12 hrs - ting tong mak mak

Udon to KK, 76 baht by local a/c bus, or 100 baht on VIP bus

Khon Kaen OK but only 5 farang bars !!

as I have homes in both Hua Hin and Phuket, I have driven Hua Hin- Phuket more than 100 (onehundred) times, and +90% of them have been in less than 6 hours.

Hua Hin to Khon Kaen only a dozen times, less than 6 hours, except for one time when it was flooded

safety is about the driver and his/her vehicle

[terak69]

Rawai to Phuket 1380 km's last month - loaded pick up & stopped overnight in Hau Hin, got 1 speeding ticket, 400 baht, but reduced to 200 when gf accepted the fine from passenger seat !!! Drove 7-8 hours both days

I not think any safe driver could do in 12 hrs - ting tong mak mak

Udon to KK, 76 baht by local a/c bus, or 100 baht on VIP bus

Khon Kaen OK but only 5 farang bars !!

as I have homes in both Hua Hin and Phuket, I have driven Hua Hin- Phuket more than 100 (onehundred) times, and +90% of them have been in less than 6 hours.

Hua Hin to Khon Kaen only a dozen times, less than 6 hours, except for one time when it was flooded

safety is about the driver and his/her vehicle

I was not looking to beat any speed records as had truck full of household goods, motorbike and the holiest of holiest, the TV !!! was in no rush, but Hau Hin to Khon Kaen in under 6 hours I would not consider safe in Thailand

[kanderson]

Back in 2000 I traveled from BKK to Chang Mai by train. I couldn't sleep and they locked my sleeping car - so I was locked in.

All I wanted was to roam around - maybe to another area where I could play cards or have some food.

I doubt I'll travel by train again in Thailand.. Even the bus has always been better. If possible you can drive a rental car or fly.

Not for the total new guy maybe - but driving in Thailand isn,t that scary or difficult.

I'm American and driving on the "other side " isn't so difficult.

It's even better than in America. Call Budget rentals and they bring a car right to your door.

No visa check or anything and Home county drivers liecense accepted.

I just reviewed the subject of the post - Phuket to Khon Kaen - just fly.

However I'd really like to take some time and drive - but way expencive.

Everywhere I go it's with 4 + people (or 10).

I just might buy a car next time. I wouldn't blink an eye. Insurance is easy to get and

I've never had a probelm.

Why buy when you can rent ? Good question. It depends.

[tommet]

approx 1600 klick get you to Laos, 1500 to Nong Kai, 1300 to Khon Kaen = 12 hours several times, picture of my F1 below, dirty and just back from Nong Kai

so 1300km is 4000 baht of fuel at these speeds, and we can go 4/5 pluss dog pluss bike. I dont fly much domestic

unless its 1200 baht each, and for a few days only, leaving dog at home

No way. Khon Kaen to Bangkok is at least 6 hours, probably 7 or more.

Bangkok to Phuket alone is at least 9 hours and more like 13.

[katabeachbum]

No way. Khon Kaen to Bangkok is at least 6 hours, probably 7 or more.

Bangkok to Phuket alone is at least 9 hours and more like 13.

I thought that would depend on vehicle speed

No way for you, fine for me

as the busses manage Phuket BKK in 9-10 hours driving, it doesnt take that much to go faster

BTW, been doing this for +8 years and +450k km

[LivinginKata]

as the busses manage Phuket BKK in 9-10 hours driving, it doesnt take that much to go faster

Well, the express buses go far too fast for the safety of the passengers and other road users. I prefer to live another day rather than 'go faster'. UP TO YOU as they say here in Thailand.

[tommet]

No way. Khon Kaen to Bangkok is at least 6 hours, probably 7 or more.

Bangkok to Phuket alone is at least 9 hours and more like 13.

I thought that would depend on vehicle speed

No way for you, fine for me

as the busses manage Phuket BKK in 9-10 hours driving, it doesnt take that much to go faster

BTW, been doing this for +8 years and +450k km

You quoted where I said at least 9 hours, and you say 9 to 10, so I don't know what you are disputing.

Over the length of the distance and time between Phuket and Bangkok (and between BKK and KK) I doubt that even a Bugatti Veyron could trim very much time, given the condition of the roads, the density of traffic, rest stops, and the usual road blocks for police (and the inevitable pile-up between a speeding coach and a speeding minibus somewhere along the line.)

Realistically there is no way you can drive from Phuket to Khon Kaen in 12 hours, which is what I declared "No Way" to. Even your 10 hours allowance to get to Bangkok from Phuket means you would have to travel the remaining 450 road kilometres in two hours to get to KK.

Or can your Vigo manage 225+ kilometres an hour?

I must have travelled from KK to BKK, and back, dozens of times at night and by day. The shortest time I've managed it is five and a half hours. Usually it takes more like 7. I'm also driving a Vigo, and I'm no slouch. The condition of the road and traffic is a more decisive limit than how heavy you plant your foot. Much of the route barely qualifies as a highway, let alone a motorway.

Edited July 24, 2011 by tommet

[katabeachbum]

You quoted where I said at least 9 hours, and you say 9 to 10, so I don't know what you are disputing.

Over the length of the distance and time between Phuket and Bangkok (and between BKK and KK) I doubt that even a Bugatti Veyron could trim very much time, given the condition of the roads, the density of traffic, rest stops, and the usual road blocks for police (and the inevitable pile-up between a speeding coach and a speeding minibus somewhere along the line.)

Realistically there is no way you can drive from Phuket to Khon Kaen in 12 hours, which is what I declared "No Way" to. Even your 10 hours allowance to get to Bangkok from Phuket means you would have to travel the remaining 450 road kilometres in two hours to get to KK.

Or can your Vigo manage 225+ kilometres an hour?

I must have travelled from KK to BKK, and back, dozens of times at night and by day. The shortest time I've managed it is five and a half hours. Usually it takes more like 7. I'm also driving a Vigo, and I'm no slouch. The condition of the road and traffic is a more decisive limit than how heavy you plant your foot. Much of the route barely qualifies as a highway, let alone a motorway.

suggest you go back and read some more posts

done Phuket Hua Hin more than 100 times at 6 hours

done Hua Hin Khon Kaen a dusin times at 6 hours

Hua Hin town to Suvarnabum I use exactly 2 hours at 4am, over and over again, as flight arrives 6am

So what you say is not real, is routine at my watch and gps

225kmh is a joke right? I am talking 110-120kmh average speeds driving time, thats 160kmh on cruisecontrol most of the time, breakes not included. This speed is not obtainable friday-sunday and holidays

Guess you have your own definitaion of roads, as its Highway from Bypass to Khon Kaen, except for Expressway #4 south of BKK and #9 in BKK

[patongphil]

I thought that would depend on vehicle speed

No way for you, fine for me

as the busses manage Phuket BKK in 9-10 hours driving, it doesnt take that much to go faster

BTW, been doing this for +8 years and +450k km

You quoted where I said at least 9 hours, and you say 9 to 10, so I don't know what you are disputing.

Over the length of the distance and time between Phuket and Bangkok (and between BKK and KK) I doubt that even a Bugatti Veyron could trim very much time, given the condition of the roads, the density of traffic, rest stops, and the usual road blocks for police (and the inevitable pile-up between a speeding coach and a speeding minibus somewhere along the line.)

Realistically there is no way you can drive from Phuket to Khon Kaen in 12 hours, which is what I declared "No Way" to. Even your 10 hours allowance to get to Bangkok from Phuket means you would have to travel the remaining 450 road kilometres in two hours to get to KK.

Or can your Vigo manage 225+ kilometres an hour?

I must have travelled from KK to BKK, and back, dozens of times at night and by day. The shortest time I've managed it is five and a half hours. Usually it takes more like 7. I'm also driving a Vigo, and I'm no slouch. The condition of the road and traffic is a more decisive limit than how heavy you plant your foot. Much of the route barely qualifies as a highway, let alone a motorway.

Phuket to Korat last month with pregnant wife so many "comfort breaks" 12 hours

[tommet]

suggest you go back and read some more posts

done Phuket Hua Hin more than 100 times at 6 hours

done Hua Hin Khon Kaen a dusin times at 6 hours

Hua Hin town to Suvarnabum I use exactly 2 hours at 4am, over and over again, as flight arrives 6am

So what you say is not real, is routine at my watch and gps

225kmh is a joke right? I am talking 110-120kmh average speeds driving time, thats 160kmh on cruisecontrol most of the time, breakes not included. This speed is not obtainable friday-sunday and holidays

Guess you have your own definitaion of roads, as its Highway from Bypass to Khon Kaen, except for Expressway #4 south of BKK and #9 in BKK

Sigh. Regardless of all your swaggering and smoke, there is no way you can drive from Phuket to Khon Kaen in 12 hours. Bragging on forums about how you're such a speed demon that you probably could doesn't butter any bread. And I note you've never actually done it.

[tommet]

Phuket to Korat last month with pregnant wife so many "comfort breaks" 12 hours

Korat is not Khon Kaen.

[katabeachbum]

Sigh. Regardless of all your swaggering and smoke, there is no way you can drive from Phuket to Khon Kaen in 12 hours. Bragging on forums about how you're such a speed demon that you probably could doesn't butter any bread. And I note you've never actually done it.

I am not a speed demon, keep safe speed to avoid accidents, but fast enough to cover distance within time. Used to snow and ice covered crappy roads at speed, Thai roads is like a railway.

You can note whatever is in your imagination, driving to Nong Kai next week, will stop for KFC in Khon Kaen within 12 hours driving, as usual

[patongphil]

Phuket to Korat last month with pregnant wife so many "comfort breaks" 12 hours

Korat is not Khon Kaen.

Never said is was!!

[tommet]

Sigh. Regardless of all your swaggering and smoke, there is no way you can drive from Phuket to Khon Kaen in 12 hours. Bragging on forums about how you're such a speed demon that you probably could doesn't butter any bread. And I note you've never actually done it.

You can note whatever is in your imagination, driving to Nong Kai next week, will stop for KFC in Khon Kaen within 12 hours driving, as usual

Should be no problem for you to prove it then, since you can post your GPS trip log file in this thread.

[tommet]

Phuket to Korat last month with pregnant wife so many "comfort breaks" 12 hours

Korat is not Khon Kaen.

Never said is was!!

Sorry misunderstood.

[fasteddie]

Another alternative, if you want to take more time, .::Bus to Surat Thani,Sleeper Train to Bkk.. then Sleeper train to Khon Kaen. You see, I hate to fly overland. Enjoy my sleeper train trips a lot. I take a 2ndclass sleeper, non -air, as it does get quite cool rattling along at night. Have a 6 can cooler, for my Changs, but often, if good company is available, will settle down in the restaurant car and enjoy a very pleasant evening.My motto :: Be a brain ,travel by train. Be a pain ,travel by plane.

really curious why you think this way

my motto is exactly the opposite

Socialisation, I enjoy good company on the train. Always have, always a pleasant experience. ,Been travelling on Thai trains since 1977,NEVER flown internal ,NEVER will. Boring, Boring ,Boring.I have travelled on every line in Thailand, all 10 of them. Always enjoy the long distance night sleepers, Have fun. ,I repeat ,Be a brain ,travel by train.

You are so right, got some brilliant stories about train journeys but none about flying.

[Tanaka]

I once had the misfortune taking a nightbus from Khon Kaen to Bangkok. It took about 4,5 hours which is an average of around 87 kph. To do that he was flat out all the time, doing 130kph. That was scary.

Someone here claiming to frequently do 1300 kilos in 12 hours with a loaded Toyota pick up with no brakes. If you have standard brakes on the Vigo, they are virtually useless. Have you looked at them? With two piston calipers and mini rotors they are designed for a small car, not a two ton pick up. Anyway, to do that stretch in that time meaning around 110kph average speed as is claimed. And as is also claimed he keeps 160kph. He talks about the good thai roads. Well, it is not the roads in themselves that are the problem here.

And talking about regarding safety at the same time just shows a really bad judgement.

Let's say you travel at 160 in your pu weighing around 2,5 tons at the moment. You are alert after having driven 8 hours straight and you have an excellent reaction time of 0,5 sec. Something crops up in front of you on the road, a car from a house, a motorbike with three kids, a child, whatever. Before you react and can put your foot on the brake, you travel about 25 meter. You then start to brake and with your vehicle and its load, your braking power is not that good especially when the brakes are heating up. After about another 180 meters you may have stopped. But you have actually stopped before that because you plowed into the outcoming car or 10wheeler after half that distance. Or you passed over the three now dead youngsters on the motorbike at 90 kmh. Of course, you and your family may also be deceased and then you would not worry.

But you still have the opportunity to worry. Now. Thais are not known to have a consequence thinking but you are not Thai, are you?

[katabeachbum]

I once had the misfortune taking a nightbus from Khon Kaen to Bangkok. It took about 4,5 hours which is an average of around 87 kph. To do that he was flat out all the time, doing 130kph. That was scary.

Someone here claiming to frequently do 1300 kilos in 12 hours with a loaded Toyota pick up with no brakes. If you have standard brakes on the Vigo, they are virtually useless. Have you looked at them? With two piston calipers and mini rotors they are designed for a small car, not a two ton pick up. Anyway, to do that stretch in that time meaning around 110kph average speed as is claimed. And as is also claimed he keeps 160kph. He talks about the good thai roads. Well, it is not the roads in themselves that are the problem here.

And talking about regarding safety at the same time just shows a really bad judgement.

Let's say you travel at 160 in your pu weighing around 2,5 tons at the moment. You are alert after having driven 8 hours straight and you have an excellent reaction time of 0,5 sec. Something crops up in front of you on the road, a car from a house, a motorbike with three kids, a child, whatever. Before you react and can put your foot on the brake, you travel about 25 meter. You then start to brake and with your vehicle and its load, your braking power is not that good especially when the brakes are heating up. After about another 180 meters you may have stopped. But you have actually stopped before that because you plowed into the outcoming car or 10wheeler after half that distance. Or you passed over the three now dead youngsters on the motorbike at 90 kmh. Of course, you and your family may also be deceased and then you would not worry.

But you still have the opportunity to worry. Now. Thais are not known to have a consequence thinking but you are not Thai, are you?

There are pickups and there are pickups, and I am fully aware of the lack of brakes on most pickups and SUV in Thailand, Isuzu being the most scary ones needing +70 meters from 100-0kmh. My Vigo at 2.600Kg loaded brakes from 100-0kmh in 43 meters. 3 times within 10 minutes. I find my brakes satisfactory. On par with my 2008 Honda Accord.

As an ex rally driver and car manufactorer test driver, I am very aware of the increased stoppingdistance involved at higher speeds. I do not recommend these speeds to average drivers in average vehicles. But when someone says its impossible, I say its routine. For me. Been so for 30 years. Could not safely keep these speeds with my 2004 or 2006 Vigos, nor my 2005 Fortuner.

Change of plans for next weeks Nong Kai trip, Air Asia Phuket- Udon, 700 baht each, each way, all included, dog stays home with maid

[LivinginKata]

Change of plans for next weeks Nong Kai trip, Air Asia Phuket- Udon, 700 baht each, each way, all included, dog stays home with maid

A wise decision, and gets us all back to the original question. Since Air Asia began these budget fares I have never considered driving even as far as Bangkok. When we fly to Udon I just hire a car at the airport for 900 baht. Still works out cheaper than the fuel costs to drive up north and back. Saves many many hours and is statistically far safer. No contest.

[katabeachbum]

Change of plans for next weeks Nong Kai trip, Air Asia Phuket- Udon, 700 baht each, each way, all included, dog stays home with maid

A wise decision, and gets us all back to the original question. Since Air Asia began these budget fares I have never considered driving even as far as Bangkok. When we fly to Udon I just hire a car at the airport for 900 baht. Still works out cheaper than the fuel costs to drive up north and back. Saves many many hours and is statistically far safer. No contest.

agreed

except I like to bring my dog and my big bike to play with up there

and the flexibility to go anywhere anytime with car

and usually a weeks stop in Hua Hin

[LivinginKata]

and usually a weeks stop in Hua Hin

Aaahhh .... that's one of the things I do not miss when we used to drive up North. Stopping to visit my wife's family at Cha-am (both going up, and then coming back down).

[tommet]

Change of plans for next weeks Nong Kai trip, Air Asia Phuket- Udon, 700 baht each, each way, all included, dog stays home with maid

[Atmos]

I did the VIP overnight trip Phuket Town - Bangkok and return 4x in 2009/10, preferred the 24-seater when available, as it was another 10hrs of bus/minivan/tuktuk to my destination. .

It is advertised as taking 12hrs which is about right, though one time arrived back in Phuket 40min early.

On my trips there was just one stop, 30 minutes.

Here's the VIP schedule for south, has links to the other areas they cover.

It's in Thai, and some dodgy translations if you use Google translate - but seems simple enough.